Are you a SWFL native, first time vacationer, snow-bird? No matter what the reason that’s bringing you to BEAUTIFUL SWFL, these new restaurants are bound to catch your attention. October marks the first unofficial month of season, and it’s bound to be the biggest one yet. Fort Myers to Naples is growing rapidly and the restaurant business is no different.

Check out these restaurants for a great date-night, night on the town, late night bite, girls night, or the game!

The Office in Cape Coral. Table 209 is now being transformed with French chef, Christian Caillaba leading in the kitchen. The restaurant will feature an indoor-outdoor bar and Caillaba’s menu of Spanish, Italian and French dishes melded with flavors from around the world.

Do you love a good BBQ? Don’t feel like cooking or the grill at your community pool occupied? Head to Reuben’s Smokehouse at 11506 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907. Check out their website here, and Facebook here. A truly family owned and operated business, they even close down part of the summer to take a TRUE family vacation. Now THAT’S family!

When you’re house hunting or need a break from remodels on your current home, take a breather and check out Reuben’s if you haven’t already. Call Kevin today to get on the house hunt if you’ve been putting it off this summer!

FORT MYERS, Fla. – From baby back ribs to brisket. One spot in Southwest Florida was just named one of the top barbeque restaurants in the country.

Trip Advisor just named Reuben’s Smokehouse on US 41 the fourth best BBQ joint in the nation.

If you drive by not paying attention, you’ll miss it. You won’t find any flashy neon signs or gaudy logo.

“It is such a small little place I didn’t even know about it,” said customer Richard Lima.

“We found out one thing that is very important– home cooking never goes out of style,” said owner Arvey Krise.

Inside the restaurant, there are only a handful of tables and handwritten notes from customers fill the wall. Nearly everything in the kitchen is homemade.

“When people say, ‘oh we love little holes in the wall,’ some people might be offended, but we think that is fantastic,” said Krise.

Now that you’ve celebrated the birthday of America, why not celebrate yourself a little bit? It’s summer in SWFL and it couldn’t be hotter! Cool off by blowing off some steam at Estero’s Miromar Outlets. The 4th of July sales are still in full swing! See below for a list of the best deals at the shops!

Get your workout on… Adidas has 1/2 off ALL red tags!

Aerosoles has BOGO on all shoes. Get some new sandals to rock this summer.

American Eagle has ALL shorts on sale PLUS up to 60% off storewide!

Banana Republic 50% off STOREWIDE.

Carter’s has an EXTRA 30% off of clearance items.

Guess features up to 50% off the ENTIRE STORE.

Neiman Marcus offers an additional 60% off clearance items!

Headed North for the summer? The North Face features up to 50% off all items.

Perfumania has a blowout sale up to 70% off.

…and more! Don’t forget the wonderful restaurants such as La Bamba, Naples Flatbread, and Cafe Luna during your shopping spree. If you’re thinking of spending some money on a house or rental, give Kevin a call at 239-677-9450 or email at kkellogg@kevinkelloggrealestate.com.

Lennar Homes is in the final phase of sales in the villages of Sonoma and Runaway Bay within the master-planned community of Fiddler’s Creek.

In the village of Sonoma, Lennar has fewer than 15 coach homes remaining. The community consists of 11 two-story buildings, each with four residences. Two floor plans are available: the Florence, with 1,741 air-conditioned square feet, and the Verona, with 2,110 air-conditioned square feet.

The ground-floor Florence design has three bedrooms and two baths in a split floor plan that also has a screen-covered patio and a two-car garage. Upgrades include 20-inch diagonal tile throughout the wet areas and entryways; granite countertops in the kitchen and baths; colonial-style wood casing and baseboards; and crown molding in the living areas and master suite. Base price for the Florence is $292,990.

The second-floor Verona also has three bedrooms and two baths, with the master bedroom toward the rear of the home. There is a three-car tandem garage. Base price for the Verona is $312,990.

In the village of Runaway Bay, Lennar has fewer than 20 estate homes remaining for sale. With the namesake Creek to one side and The Creek Golf Course to the other, Runaway Bay features spacious three- and four-bedroom floor plans.

Each Mediterranean-style residence in Runaway Bay offers a three-car garage, gourmet kitchen and study along with a screen-covered lanai with optional pool/ spa package and winter kitchen. Homes situated along The Creek also have a dock option at the time of purchase. The Creek allows for electric boats, kayaks and canoes. Other homes have golf course views.

The Laurel is the largest residence currently offered within Runaway Bay. With 3,659 air-conditioned square feet over two stories, the design has three bedrooms, four baths, a private study and dining room around a centrally located living room. There also is a balcony, a screencovered lanai with optional pool/spa package and winter kitchen, plus a second level bonus room with wet bar and bath. The base price of the Laurel is $755,999.

The two-story Lantana encompasses 3,542 air-conditioned square feet and has four bedrooms, three full baths and two half-baths. The home also provides a formal dining room, private study, balcony and spacious lanai, plus a second floor bonus room. A pool/spa package is optional. The base price of the Lantana is currently $725,999.

Where’s the story?

A one-story residence with 3,043 airconditioned square feet, the Camellia has four bedrooms and three full baths in a split floor plan. The home also provides a formal dining room, private study, large family room for entertaining and large covered lanai with optional outdoor kitchen. The Camellia is priced from $685,999.

The Bougainvillea, a one-story design with 2,800 air-conditioned square feet, has three bedrooms, three baths, a study, formal dining room and expansive great room and kitchen. The optional heated pool/spa and winter kitchen are both available with this floor plan. The Bougainvillea floor plan is priced from $655,999.

The entrance to Fiddler’s Creek is off Collier Boulevard on the way to Marco Island. Amenities include the 54,000-square-foot clubhouse and spa, fitness center, lagoon-style swimming complex, tennis courts and restaurants for casual and elegant dining. Fiddler’s Creek residents can join The Golf Club and The Tarpon Club for beach and boating.

If stable and steady income doesn’t intrigue you. Five day weeks with guaranteed days off, bore you -become a real estate agent! It’s an unpredictable industry with many points of excitement each day. P&M Property Services is looking for a lightly seasoned real estate agent (2 years of experience and their real estate license in FL). You’re helping someone find or sell a home and this is a MAJOR point in his/her life! Here are some reasons why you should be a real estate agent AND work with P&M Property Services. See the email below to send you resume to make a change today!

You’re your own boss

Pro: You are an independent and are the boss of your time! You can get up and walk around, have lunch meetings, and take a 2 hour break -if you wish. You can work from an office, from home, or both! Spend more time with your family or invest all of your time in work. You choose!

Con: You will have open houses on the weekends and be signing a contract when everyone else is eating dinner. But isn’t that worth it for an exciting environment and industry?

You’re the expert

Pro: You know the ins and outs of your community. You get to be PAID to learn more about where you live and sell it to others! You will study where you live and share that knowledge with your clients. Maybe you’ll even have a hurricane checklist for those clients who are moving to the area

Con: You’re being trusted with someone’s money. Deadlines are deadlines. Make sure you’re organized and timely if you choose real estate.

You wear a lot of hats

Pro: “That’s not my job” doesn’t exist in your line of work. You will be the receptionist, data entry clerk, cleaner, coordinator, seller, and the list goes on and on. It keeps your day exciting and there will never be a dull day -guaranteed.

Con: You will be under stress, so make sure you handle it wisely. Take each day by day. You’ll be looked to for answers to your buyers and sellers’ problems. Take a minute each morning to meditate to help you keep your sanity.

Real estate is dynamic

Pro: When the market is booming, all is great in the world. Real estate feels like the best job ever. You may be so flush with cash that you’re finding $100 bills in old jacket pockets. You’re busy and not worried about where the next lead is coming from.

Con: The employment outlook, the stock market and the time of year all impact the housing market. During the slow season, the job starts to feel like a grind. Agents are all scrambling for the same clients and the competition is cutthroat. The job requires someone who can adapt quickly to a changing market.

Email your resume to resumes@kevinkelloggrealestate.com if you’re interested in working real estate with a local, family owned and operated company!

The sun is an important part of our lives. Sunny days have a positive impact on our mood, increase our level of physical activity, make many social events and gatherings possible, and even benefit our health by providing our bodies with essential vitamin D. Unfortunately, sun exposure also presents risk factors that can lead to skin or eye damage, and even skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Prevention and early detection are the best ways to keep your skin healthy. It’s important to learn what you can do to protect yourself and how to spot any possible signs of skin cancer.

Here are some easy ways to protect your skin from sun damage:

Wear sunscreen with a SPF 15 or higher. If you have fair skin or light hair, you are more susceptible to the sun’s rays and should use a sunscreen with a higher SPF.

Choose sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum” meaning that it protects against two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB.

Use waterproof sunscreen to make sure it stays on longer, even if you perspire or get wet.

Reapply sunscreen often – usually every two hours, but sooner if you’ve been swimming or are perspiring heavily.

Cover your whole body. Remember those areas that can be easy to forget, such as your ears, eyelids, lips, nose, hands, feet, and the top of your head.

Seek shade or avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10am – 4pm. The sun is strongest during those hours, even on cloudy days.